Tuna Samosas

{Ramadan Special} – Tuna Samosas by UmmuMuhammad of ‘Halal Food Adventures’

Samosas are perfect snack for Iftar time. There are whole variety of filling’s you can try when you are making samosas. But these tuna samosas by UmmuMuhammad of ‘Halal Food Adventures‘ are so tempting that I am going to try these for iftar today. If you have not tried tuna in samosa…then do try out this recipe by UmmuMuhammad and do stop by her blog for awesome recipes. Thank you UmmuMuhammad for being part of this event and making it wonderful.

Ramadan is the month we all put things that have to do with this world aside, and really focus on the Akhirah (the hereafter) and why we are here. A time where we make sure we are right with Allah. A time for us to get it together. A lot of the Ramadans are spent revolving around food. What we forget to realize is that it is more than that. Instead of focusing on the food itself, lets focus on the one who provided us with it.

Ramadan is also a great month to reconnect with our brothers and sisters in Islam. We all come together, from different nations for the sake of Allah. The benefit of this is not only that we can strengthen our relationship with the members of this ummah and the one who created it, but we get to learn about each other through a more personal level.

All this said, and yet, In what better way to reconnect than a satisfying meal after a long day of ibadah (worship). Yes, Ramadan isn’t about the food, but who says we can’t learn about each other from it and still look forward to it at the end of the day? It’s all about the proper intention and renewing it regularly.

One thing I have always enjoyed was sitting in the masjid with a group of sisters from all over and trying new dishes left and right. The international aroma is out of this world and is something I look forward to each year. It’s nice to see that no matter what country we are from we all hold Laillaha illah Allah close to our hearts. The diversity of the foods reminds me of how much Islam has spread throughout the centuries!

I would like to share this very special recipe that is close to my heart. Not one iftar missed this dish and its always the one that is fought over.

This recipe is the pretty much well-known “ackee and salt fish” of Jamaica. It’s the country’s national dish. Now I am mixed, so my food growing up was mixed as well. There would be lasagna and ackee and salt fish on the same table.  The thing is ackee can get a little pricy at times and so my mother came up with the best substitution for this dish when things were tight.

This is what I call the tuna samosa.

The trick to making this dish so delicious is the tiny bit of SUGAR added. PLEASE DO NOT SKIP THIS! No, it won’t make this a sweet dish, but the hint of sugar balances out the acidity of the tomato very well. My mother makes her own pasta sauce and never skips the sugar as well. Something about the addition of sugar and tomatoes makes the dish magical.

Now the name is simple, but that’s how our food should be during Ramadan. Even though it is simple, it still captures the tradition and personal connection that food during Ramadan brings to our family, and hopefully to yours.

We all have dishes that we eat every Ramadan and sometimes only during Ramadan.

My mom had gotten remarried to a Yemeni, so having samosas for iftar is a must. There is no iftar without dates, Shurbah (bulgur wheat and milk porridge), and samosas. So, my mom took the tuna filling that has the same ingredients ackee and salt fish, but minus the ackee and replacing the salt fish with tuna. You can definitely add ackee which I didn’t  try out this time, but I prefer just tuna. Now onto the recipe, shall we?

TUNA SAMOSAS

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 tbsp. Oil
• Scotch bonnet to taste OPTIONAL (I added 1 inch)
• 2 Sprigs of thyme (leave the stems)
• 2 Scallions finely diced
• 1 Onion finely diced
• 3 medium Tomato finely diced or Pureed.
• 1 tsp. Seasoning salt
• ¼ tsp. Pepper
• 1 tsp. Butter
• 2 tsp. Sugar
•  4-5 OZ cans of Tuna
• ½ cup Water

FOR ROLLING SAMOSAS:

• 1 tbsp. flour
• 1 tbsp. water
• Spring roll wraps (I used a pack of 50 sheets which was 400g/14.1 OZ)

PREPARATION:

FOR MAKING THE FILLING:

STEPS:

• In a medium frying pan put the oil, thyme, scotch bonnet, scallions and onions in the pan on medium heat and cook for 5 minutes.
• Add in the seasoning salt, pepper, butter and sugar and stir till combined.
• Then add the tomatoes and let it cook covered for 5 minutes.
• While this is cooking open the cans of tuna and drain them and set aside.
• After 5 minutes add the tuna along with ½ cup of water, stir and cover the pan. Let it cook for about 10 minutes stirring here and there.
• When the water has evaporated and the tomatoes and onions have somewhat dissolved you are done. Add more seasoning salt if you like.

ROLLING THE SAMOSAS:

• In a small bowl add the flour and water. Stir till it makes a thick paste. This will be like a glue for the samosas.
• I cut my spring roll wraps into 3 sections leaving me with a much thinner strip.
• I take a spring roll wrap that I have cut and placed the filling in.
• I take the right corner and fold it to the left. Then I fold it in the middle. Then I fold it to the right making sure the corner is nice and sealed and have a sharp point. I alternate from left to right till the wrap is finished. I put a little of the glue at the seam and seal it. Then you’re done! Repeat until the filling is finished.

COOKING THE SAMOSAS:

• Deep fry the samosas till golden brown.
• I just add oil in a frying pan and shallow fry them. They have the same results in my opinion.
• And then you’re done!
• I hope you enjoy!

You can find UmmuMuhammad @ Instagram

Find more Ramadan Special recipes of this season @ Joy From Fasting To Feasting – X.